The endowment will provide scholarships to students enrolling in a trades degree program at the college
April 10, 2024: Portland, OR – Hampton Lumber is pleased to announce that it has established a permanent endowed scholarship with the Centralia College Foundation for the benefit of Centralia College students. The scholarship program will support students interested in enrolling full time in a trades degree program.
Hampton operates two sawmills in east Lewis County in the communities of Randle and Morton. Hampton purchased these two mills, also known as the Cowlitz Stud Mills, in 1999.
“One of our priorities as a company is to help improve access to a variety of educational opportunities for students, especially in the trades,’ said Hampton Lumber CEO, Randy Schillinger. “Skilled trades positions are in high demand and are critical to local natural resources industries,” said Schillinger.
Centralia College’s Technology, Trades, & Manufacturing Program includes opportunities for diesel equipment technology, welding, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), electronics and robotics, and industrial trades.
“Hampton Lumber has been a strong and steady supporter of education and Centralia College over the decades, investing in scholarships and programs that benefit all of our students,” said Christine Fossett, Executive Director of the Centralia College Foundation. “This scholarship to promote degree programs in the trades is timely and extremely beneficial. We appreciate Hampton’s commitment to student success and Centralia College students.”
Hampton was also a founding partner in Centralia College’s mobile training lab for career and technical education. The lab includes equipment simulators to spark interest in the trades among students in rural Lewis County.
“I was raised in the Cowlitz Valley,” said Schillinger. “I couldn’t be more pleased to announce this continued investment in educational opportunities in Lewis County.”
About Hampton Lumber
Hampton Lumber is a fourth-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With over 80 years in the sawmill business, Hampton operates sawmills in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia and markets wood products all over the world. Hampton also manages a wholesale and lumber export division and numerous reload and remanufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. All of Hampton’s forestlands are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an independent, non-profit organization that promotes sustainable forest management. SFI certified forests play an important role in water conservation, wildlife habitat, and climate solutions.
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